HP PhotoSmart 945 5.3MP Digital Camera w/ 8x Optical Zoom
Details
- Availability:
- No longer available through SilverGelatin.net
- List Price:
- $399.99
- Average Customer Rating:
- 3.0 out of 5
- Manufacturer:
- Hewlett Packard
Features
- 5.3 megapixel sensor captures enough image information to make photo-quality 11x17-inch prints
- 8x optical zoom and 7x digital zoom
- Large 2-inch LCD screen; Direct photo printing allows you to attach directly to an HP Photosmart printer or select HP all-in-one to print photos
- Store images on Secure Digital (SD) memory card (32 MB card included)
- Powered by 4 AA batteries (alkalines included, NiMH or photo-lithium recommended)
Description
HP PhotoSmart 945 -- There's never been a more enjoyable, affordable way into the world of digital photography! The trim, pocket size 945 with HP Instant Share delivers sharp photos and major zoom power, with 5.3 MP total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x Optical, 7x Digital). Snap, select and share photos right from the back of your camera using HP Instant Share. 2-inch LCD display USB interface Includes removeable 32MB SD card, 4 AA photo lithium batteries, USB cable, neck strap, software on CD Unit Weight 15.7 ounces w/ batteries One year limited warranty
The HP PhotoSmart 945, featuring an 8x optical zoom lens and a 7x digital zoom (for 56x total), is one of the most affordable "big zoom, big megapixel" digital cameras on the market. Geared for the advanced amateur, it features a 5.3-megapixel resolution, advanced photo features, and a wide variety of manual controls. But it also has such automatic features as an on-camera wizard for getting the best shot, direct printing, and HP's Instant Share.
Optics and Resolution
With its 5.3-megapixel resolution, you can snap bright, detailed images with the PhotoSmart 945 that can be enlarged to poster size. It features two resolution options: 2608 x 1952 (5 MP) and 1296 x 976 (1 MP). The Fuji Photo lens has an 8x optical zoom that's coupled with a 7x digital zoom for a 56x total zoom. It has a focal range of 7.6-61mm (35 mm equivalent: 37-300mm).
Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the PhotoSmart 945 can also record up to 60-second movie clips with sound at a 288 x 208 pixel resolution. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers a limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.
More Features
The 945 also includes HP's new, exclusive Adaptive Lighting technology, which balances brightness relationships between bright and dark areas in a photo, preserving gentle contrasts but compressing harsh contrasts. With clear and easy to use "low", "high" and "off" settings, the camera automatically balances shots by lightening specific areas within a photograph.
HP's on-camera help allows you to access quick and clear guidance on how to take the best picture with the HP PhotoSmart 945 digital camera's wide ranging functions. In addition, its enhanced manual controls allow concurrent photos to be taken through "burst" mode without having to wait for the camera to prepare before each shot. Other available creative controls include aperture, ISO, shutter speed, exposure, white balance, color and sharpness
With HP's Instant Share feature, you can customize your camera with e-mail aliases and distribution lists of your family and friends. For each picture, you can designate up to 14 destinations, including e-mail addresses, compatible printers, and more.
Other features include:
- Large 2-inch LCD monitor
- Built-in flash with auto, on, off, night, and red-eye reduction modes
- Print photos directly to select HP PhotoSmart printers and all-in-one devices via include USB cable
The PhotoSmart 945 is also compatible with the HP PhotoSmart 8881digital camera dock, which enables you to easily transfer images to your PC or charge a set of included rechargeable batteries. Cutting down on desktop clutter, this convenient remote-controlled device enables you to easily transfer image files to your PC, print photos, or even view images on TV--all in one easy step
Storage and Transfer
The PhotoSmart 945 is compatible with Secure Digital (SD) MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards; a 32 MB SD card is included. When shooting in Best mode (2608 x 1952), you can store 11 images on the included memory card. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Power and Size
The camera is powered by 4 AA batteries (alkalines included, rechargeables recommended). It measures 4.84 by 3.35 by 3.35 inches and weighs 13.7 ounces excluding the batteries or 15.7 ounces when loaded with batteries.
What's In The Box
This package includes the HP PhotoSmart 945 digital camera, 32 MB SD memory card, neck strap, 4 AA alkaline batteries, USB cable for camera to PC, USB cable for camera to printer, and dock insert for use with optional HP PhotoSmart 8881 Camera Dock. It also comes with a CD-ROM featuring HP Photo & Imaging software for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh and ArcSoft Funhouse.
Spotlight customer reviews
peice of junk
[ Posted: 2008-07-30 ]
I too got took on this one. Looked great, had lots of features. Got it for my birthday what a waste of money. I bet I didn't take 50 pictures with it before it died. I also bought all the extras that went along with it. Got a lot of money tied up in this camera and can't get hp to fix it or anything. All they wanted me to do was buy another hp camera and waste more money. HP can't make cameras they better stick to computers. If you buy one of these cameras it will work fine for a while then (bam) it's dead without warning. There may be a few out there still working. If so you are one of the lucky ones to have a working one. I will never buy an hp camera.
Great Pics with Some Problems
[ Posted: 2007-11-24 ]
I have owned this camera for over 3 years. Picture quality is amazing,particularly if you are into landscapes. True colors are obtainable in any light if you know how to adjust the manual tuning features. My main gripe is the periodic shutting down of the camera . It occasionally locks up with lens out or just turns itself off. When this happens you need to remove the batteries and replace or simply turn it back on. Lag time for shutter action from button push is too slow but average for this level of camera and price. Lithium batteries last a reasonable amount of time for this size of device. Re-chargeable batteries last about " 15 mintues" it seems.
Loved it while I had it
[ Posted: 2007-09-13 ]
I loved this camera as I too was reminded of my old 35 SLR. The HP945 took beautiful pictures and the zoom was great! I had this camera 3 years and couldn't even pretend to know how many pics it actually took. More than I could ever count. With that said, about 4 months ago the LCD began having lines in it which also came out the the pictures. IT was sudden. My huspand said it was "over use" LOL. Anyway, called HP which couldn't do anything about it as it was 3 years old. Did offer me a discount off a new, diffrent model of my choice. After reviewing the options I decided I was better off just looking into finding me something else. I chose the FujiS700. I was excited about this one too. But two months after I purchased it, the LCD stopped working, went black. As it was over 30 day's old, the place purchased wouldn't take it back so I sent it back to Fuji. At my cost. Anyway, I'm back to looking for another camera while waiting for the Fuji to be fixed. I should have stuck with HP.
Good Camera Overall
[ Posted: 2007-04-20 ]
I liked the look, feel, and operation of this camera, it served me quite well and has now been passed on to my daughter to go along with her new HP computer. I replaced my 945 with an R967, because I wanted a higher resolution camera, and the smaller size of the 967 was a huge plus. Anyway, the only things I did not like about my 945 are a)it SUCKS BATTERIES!!! and b)this cam does not take pix in low light well (although I must admit I am far from an expert on how to do this anyway)
As far as dealing with HP, I'm quite pleased, they are fast and competitively priced.
Crash and burn
[ Posted: 2007-03-21 ]
It takes pretty good pictures but it's slower than Jake's dog. Press the shutter release after a lengthy auto focus and wait awhile for it to 'click'. Then wait some more while it saves the picture (it shows a message asking you if you want to delete it, a play to make you believe it's waiting on YOU.) The only plus I can think of right now is the 8X optical zoom.
Now it doesn't want to do anything, pretty much. In the docking port it shows that it's on aux power and won't recharge the batteries. The lens comes out but a get a multitude of different actions: red light flashing, lcd screen won't come on, no battery charge indicator because the first screen won't stay on long enough, etc., etc. Even the diagnostic test (hold the flash button and turn on the camera) doesn't work anymore. I guess it's just a boat anchor now unless someone has a better suggestion.
I think I'll just go top notch and buy a GOOD camera, like a Nikon D2x!!